The pitching free agent market has evolved very slowly. This stands true for even Blake Snell, the reigning NL Cy Young winner. Despite a top season for the lefty ace, uncertainties surrounding his play style and other aspects of his game have arisen. But now, as the market evolves, Snell may see his value increase exponentially. 

There are already several teams interested in the lefty ace. With more pitchers signing for teams, this will only increase. Snell’s agent Scott Boras chose to play the waiting game, and now it might finally be paying off. 

Blake Snell will see his market increase as Shota Imanaga signs 

Blake Snell has not seen much change in his off-season situation yet. Although teams are interested, no concrete negotiations have begun yet. Now, as Shota Imanaga nears the end of his posting period and a deal nears, Snell will also see a boost. The teams that miss out on the Japanese pitcher will likely throw their ring in the sweepstakes for the 2023 NL Cy Young winner. 

Currently, the Los Angeles Angels seem to be leading the chase for Snell, with the New York Yankees gaining ground. But the San Francisco Giants and other teams may intensify their pursuit of the Seattle native after Imanaga goes off the market. 

Furthermore, with Scott Boras by his side, they will wait for the best possible deal. This may include waiting late into the off-season, a tactic Boras regularly implements. It will be interesting to see what kind of deal Snell signs this off-season. 

Concerns around Snell’s durability and inconsistency remain an issue

Despite being a bonafide ace-level pitcher, Blake Snell has concerning factors in his game. Durability and inconsistency are the top concerns surrounding his play. Over the last 5 seasons, he has recorded an ERA above 4 twice. Furthermore, at 31 years old there is concern over how long his peak will last. A team like the Yankees will not want to spend too much money on a pitcher that may turn out like Carlos Rodon has in his first season. 

Read More: Is Blake Snell Angels’ Only Shohei Ohtani Replacement? What Are Their Off-Season Plans?

But there is a lot of time left in free agency and Scott Boras is likely to drag it out. Do you think Blake Snell will sign shortly after Shota Imanaga? Will his market see substantial growth after the Japanese ace signs?

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